A good leader is a confident leader. They help unite and motivate their subordinates to grow and be more productive and are capable of acting and thinking independently. These traits of a confident leader make them invaluable in any company or organization.
However, developing your self-confidence as a leader isn’t easy. It takes time and practice to build your leadership confidence. To help you get started, here are eight helpful tips for honing your leadership confidence.
Don’t Be Too Hard on Yourself.
Sometimes, we are our own worst critic. We constantly focus on our mistakes and tend to be too critical of ourselves. If you want to build your leadership confidence, the first step is to accept that you’re not perfect.
Being too much of a perfectionist will negatively affect not just your productivity; but also your subordinates too. So learn to appreciate your and your team’s small victories every day. Doing so will improve your confidence in yourself and your team’s morale.
One way to get more small victories for you and your team is by setting realistic and manageable goals. Doing this helps you have an easier time accomplishing your tasks, and you won’t feel anxious that you won’t be able to do them.
Assess Yourself Objectively.
It’s not uncommon for you to sometimes lack confidence in your leadership skills. When you start having doubts about yourself, take a step back and reflect on how you’re currently doing. There must be a good reason you got promoted to a leadership role, right?
Ask yourself the following question:
- Am I and my team accomplishing our tasks on time?
- Which areas do I need to improve?
- In what areas am I excelling?
- How are my interactions with my team?
You can also ask your team, client, and fellow team leaders for feedback. This helps you see things from their perspective, so you know what you’re doing right and what you need to improve on.
Keep Up to Date With New Technologies and Management Techniques.
Many things have changed since the shift to a remote setup due to the pandemic. Certain leadership styles that once worked for you may not be applicable to today’s remote work environment.
One excellent way to remain updated with the latest management techniques is to attend leadership courses and seminars whenever possible. These seminars will help you appreciate the importance of self-confidence in leadership and help you learn new skills and tools to become a better leader.
Build Your Network.
Having the skills and training to be a good leader is one thing; being able to confidently apply what you’ve learned is another. One way to help you do that is by having other leaders to share your experiences with to gain new insights and feedback.
So, how do you build your network? The first step is to start small, such as with your friends or fellow leaders within the company. Through them, you can meet other leaders and further expand your network.
You shouldn’t feel pressured to immediately form a vast network. As long as you’re slowly able to build your confidence and grow your current network, that should be more than enough.
Help Your Team Grow Alongside You.
The best way to build your leadership confidence is by helping your subordinates grow. You can accomplish this by regularly communicating with them and providing feedback on their work. This is usually done through scheduled meetings with them.
That said, communication is a two-way street. During your discussions with your team, you must also be willing to listen to their input. Doing so increases your subordinates’ trust because they see you’re listening to them and not just ordering them around.
Since you’re working remotely, you have several options for what communication apps to use for your meetings. Besides Zoom and Google Meet, you can also use Gather, Discord, and Cisco Webex.
Being an Introverted Leader Has Its Perks.
Despite what some may think, being introverted is not a hindrance to becoming a confident leader. It offers several benefits compared to being an extrovert, such as being great listeners and thinking before they act.
So keep your chin up, introverted leaders. You have plenty of things going for you that extroverted leaders don’t have.
Take Care of Your Body.
Besides honing your emotions and mind to become a great leader, you shouldn’t forget about your body too. Being in good shape improves your overall self-esteem and can give you a sense of accomplishment that will motivate you to take on any challenges you encounter.
And if, for example, you’re feeling nervous during your meetings, you can try breathing exercises to calm you down. Or if you’re feeling stressed, why not exercise to relieve some stress?
Establish Your Own Schedule.
One of the main advantages of a work from home setup is flexibility. However, this could prove to be a double-edged sword if you don’t have the discipline to maintain your and your team’s productivity.
If you want to avoid experiencing this, you should set a schedule and follow it until it becomes a habit. This allows you to make the most of your shift and accomplish all your tasks on time. When needed, you should modify your schedule to better fit your needs.
Becoming a more confident person, especially if you’re a team leader, takes time. But by following these tips, you’d have an easier time building your remote leadership confidence.
If you’re confident in your leadership skills and are ready to try them out in a remote work set-up, head to Remote Staff. Our Jobs List contains various openings where you can apply your leadership skills. Good luck!
